Our Mission

Allana Buick & Bers (ABB) assists building owners, architects, contractors, and the construction industry with making buildings perform better. ABB has a holistic approach to building performance by improving building longevity, mitigating risk of defects, and lowering operational expenses with sound building sciences. Our world-class professional staff specializes in building envelope systems, roofing, waterproofing, building forensics, mechanical systems, and testing.

Allana Buick & Bers’ core values are:

Education

We believe in sharing what we learn so we can grow from within and create better buildings for our communities.

Transparency

We advocate for what is best for the client.

Specialization

We believe that no two buildings are the same, and as such, we tailor our solutions.

Leadership

Our principals offer strong leadership. Every project is led by a principal.

ABB is nationally certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), and from The Supplier Clearinghouse for the Utility Supplier Diversity Program of the California Public Utilities Commission.

Executive Leadership

Karim Allana, PE, RWC, RRC
Chief Executive Officer, Senior Principal

Eugene Buick, PE
Chief Operations Officer, Senior Principal

Gerson Bers, LEED AP
Vice President, Senior Principal

Leadership

Jonathan Bell
Business Development Officer & Associate Principal

Jason Blinkhorn
Director, Fire Protection

Edward S. Breeze, PE
Principal

Bill Conley
Dallas Division Manager, Senior Principal

Kelly Conley
Business Development Director, Associate Principal

Matt Dutrow
Senior Consultant, Associate Principal

James Engler, CSI, AIA, SCIP, BESI
Hawaii Building Envelope Manager, Principal

Brett T. Fagan, PE
Principal

Roberto Hernandez
Forensic Services Manager & Associate Principal

Joseph Higgins, PE
Hawaii Operations Manager, Principal

Jerome Jeffers II, RRC, RWC, RBEC, CCS, CCCA
Design Services Manager, Principal

Michael Johns
Senior Consultant, Associate Principal

John Kelleher
Chief Financial Officer, Principal

Khatidja Khalfan, CPSM
Marketing Director

Petersen Lambert, PE, BECxP, CxA+BE
Seattle Division Manager, Principal

David H. Nicastro, F.ASTM, PE
Senior Principal

Ken Paar, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C, BECxP, CxA+BE
Dallas Operations Manager, Senior Principal

Ron Rapacz, AIA, RA, NCARB
Associate Principal

Doris E. Vales
Principal

Danny Westerfield Jr., RRO
Senior Consultant & Associate Principal

John Williams
North Carolina Division Manager, Principal

Barbara Wong
Human Resources Director

Awards

2022: 2021:	2022 Hot Firms – Zweig Group #53 out of 100 Fastest Growing AEC Firms in the US and Canada 37th Best Firm to work for under 200 employees 55th for Multi-Discipline Firms Zweig Group – Hot Firms (#47) -2021 Hawaii Business Magazine – Hawai’I’s Best Places to Work – 2021
2020:	Zweig Group – Best Firm to Work For – (#21) 100 -199 Employees – 2020 Zweig Group – Best Firm to Work For – (#48) Multidiscipline – 2020 Hawaii Business Magazine – Hawai’I’s Best Places to Work – 2020 Zweig Group – Hot Firms – (#87) – 2020 Silicon Valley Business Journal – (#18) Largest Engineering Firms in Silicon Valley – 2020 Silicon Valley Business Journal – (#10) Largest Minority-Owned Businesses – 2020 Silicon Valley Business Journal – (#24) Fastest Private Growing Companies – 2020
2019:	Silicon Valley Business Journal – (#11) Largest Minority-Owned Businesses – 2019 Silicon Valley Business Journal – (#18) Fastest-Growing Private Companies in Silicon Valley – 2019 Silicon Valley Business Journal – (#25) Largest Engineering Firms in Silicon Valley – 2019 Hawaii Business Magazine – Hawai’I’s Best Places to Work – 2019 Zweig Group – Best Firm to Work For – (#18) 100 -199 Employees – 2019 Zweig Group – Best Firm to Work For – (#48) Multidiscipline – 2019
2018:	ZweigWhite – Best Firm to Work For – (#28) Multidiscipline – 2018 Silicon Valley Business Journal – (#45) Fast Private Award – 2018 Silicon Valley Business Journal – (#10) Largest Minority-Owned Businesses – 2018
2017:	Zweig Group – Fast Growth Award – 2017 ZweigWhite – Best Firm to Work For – (#27) Multidicipline – 2017 ABBAE Project Malden Station named Multifamily Community of the Year at the 2017 Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Awards by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) – 2017 Silicon Valley Business Journal – Largest Minority-Owned Businesses – 2017 Silicon Valley Business Journal – Largest Engineering Firms – 2017
2016:	Silicon Valley Business Journal – 50 Fastest Growing Private Companies -2016 ZweigWhite – Best Firm to Work For (#25 in Multi-Discipline) -2016
2015:	Statewide Educational Wrap-Up Program Joint Powers Authority – Safety Recognition Award – 2015 ZweigWhite – Best Firm to Work For – 2015 ZweigWhite – Marketing Excellence – 2015 Inc. 5000 – The 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America – (#3823) Overall Rank – 2015 Inc. 5000 – The 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America – (#59) Engineering Rank – 2015
2014:	Archrecord.Construction.Com – Top 300 Architectural Firms – 2014 ENR California – California’s Top Design Firm – 2014 Pacific Business News – Hawaii’s Top Engineer Firm – 2014 ZweigWhite – Best Firm to Work For – 2014 Keenan – SEWUP – Outstanding Safety Performance on the Canada College Solar Photovoltaic System Design-Build Project – 2014
2013:	ZweigWhite – CE News – Best Firm to Work For – (#19) Multidiscipline A/E Services – 2013 Engineering News-Record – (#488) Top 500 Design Firm – 2013 Pacific Business News- Top Engineering Firm – 2013 Silicon Valley Business Journal – (#60) Top Minority Owned Business – 2013 Silicon Valley Business Journal – Top Engineering Firm 2013 CE News – Best Firms to Work For – Top-Ranked Civil Engineering, Multidiscipline, & Environmental Service Firms – 2013
2012:	Hawaii Best Places to Work Inc 5000 – Fastest Growing Firms ZweigWhite – CE News – Best Firms to Work For – (#11) Multidiscipline A/E Services -2012 Pacific Business News – Top Engineering Firms – 2012
2011:	Hawaii Best Places to Work Inc 5000 – Fastest Growing Firms ZweigWhite – Pinnacle Award – 2011 ZweigWhite – HotFirm -#171 – 2011 ZweigWhite – Best Firms to Work For – (#10) Multidiscipline A/E Services -2011
2010:	ZweigWhite – CE News – Best Firm to Work For – (Top 14) Multidiscipline A/E Services – 2010 ZweigWhite – CE News – Best Firm to Work For – (#3) Multidiscipline A/E Services – 2010 Hawaii Business Magazine – Best Places to Work – 2010 Hawaii Fastest 50 Firms – 2010 RCI – Document Awards 1st Place – 2010 ZweigWhite – HotFirm – Fastest Growing – 2010 Inc. 5000 – America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies – (#1954) Overall Rank – 2010 Inc. 5000 – America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies – (#26) Industry Rank – 2010
2009:	ZweigWhite – CE News – Best Firm to Work For – (#5) Multidiscipline A/E Services – 2009 ZweigWhite – CE News – Best Firm to Work For – (#2) Multidiscipline A/E Services – 2009 Hawaii Business Magazine – Best Places to Work – 2009 Hawaii Fastest 50 Firms – 2009 RCI – Document Awards 3rd Place – 2009 ZweigWhite – HotFirm – Fastest Growing – 2009
2008:	CE News – Best Firm to Work For Hawaii Best Places to Work ZweigWhite Hot Firm – Fastest Growing

Milestones

2017:	Allana Buick & Bers opens twelfth office in Portland, Oregon.
2017:	Allana Buick & Bers celebrates its 30 year anniversary. ABBAE is awarded “Best Firm to Work For” for the 9th year in a row. ABBAE achieves over 20% growth over the past 3 years.
2016:	Allana Buick & Bers opens its eleventh office in Charlotte, North Carolina.
2015:	Allana Buick & Bers opens its tenth office in Oakland, CA. The office is located in the heart of up-and-coming downtown Oakland and brings ABBAE closer to East Bay clients and job sites.
2013:	Allana Buick & Bers promotes two of its employees to Associate Principal: Petersen Lambert of the Seattle office and Joseph Higgins in the Hawaii office. In addition, Allana Buick & Bers launches a new Construction Management division to complement its existing portfolio of construction services including: Construction Documents, Construction Administration, and Construction Monitoring.
2012:	Allana Buick & Bers celebrates its 25th anniversary. A new branch office opens in Irvine, California.
2009:	The firm continues to expand past one hundred (100) employees. A new branch office opens in Seattle, Washington. Additionally, the firm launches a new Energy and Solar Division in an effort to provide clients with energy efficiency and renewable/alternative energy consulting services. Jerome Jeffers is also promoted to the position of Associate Principal.
2007:	The firm continues to expand past ninety (90) Employees. New office openings include a satellite branch on the Island of Maui, as well as Sacramento, California.
2006:	The firm continues to see growth in staff expertise and client base in all offices. The firm moves its headquarters to a newly renovated 20,000 square foot office at 990 Commercial Street in Palo Alto, California. The new headquarters building was renovated specifically to accommodate our range of services. The new headquarters building has a large training facility and dedicated areas for accounting, IT facilities, and corporate marketing. The consulting staff is housed in an open studio with collaborative spaces and large personal work areas.
2005:	Several milestones reached, including the firm doubling in size to more than forty employees and changing the name to Allana Buick & Bers, Inc. Our expertise expanded to include structural engineering and large-scale construction management. Additionally, ABBAE opens a third branch office in Los Angeles, California and a fourth branch office in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2003:	Hawaii is the second branch office to open, and provides roof design and construction management services for a substantial hotel renovation in Waikiki.
2002:	The firm’s expertise greatly expands, with Gerson Bers and Eugene Buick joining the firm as partners. The firm has approximately fourteen full-time employees and adds a new mechanical engineering consulting specialty.
2001:	Our first branch office opens in San Diego. The San Diego staff provide consulting services to Southern California ABBAE clients.
1994:	The firm changes its name from Roofing Services and Consultants to Allana-Lippert, Inc. in recognition of the comprehensive list of architectural engineering services offered to its clients. Demand for the firm’s expertise grew rapidly during the early “internet bubble”.
1992:	Steve Lippert, our first chief architect, joins the firm and adds expertise in building code compliance, steel fabrication, and construction.
1991:	The firm moves to a larger facility in San Jose, California to accommodate the rapidly growing staff.
1989:	Gerson Bers joins the firm. The firm grew to a staff of six employees and offers expertise in building facility assessments and consultation for multiple building envelope systems.
1987:	Allana Buick & Bers’ predecessor firm (Roofing Services and Consultants) was founded in Sunnyvale, California by Karim Allana. The firm provides roofing design services, quality control services, and roofing repair services.

Certifications

California

General Building Contractor (GBC): 1002553

Professional Engineer (PE): C 41693

Registered Architect (RA): C 12273

Nevada

General Building Contractor (GBC): 77289

Professional Engineer (PE): 15686

Registered Architect (RA): 6593

Hawaii

General Building Contractor (GBC): -32103

Professional Engineer (PE): – 11655

Registered Architect (RA): – 10853

Washington

Professional Engineer (PE): 47311

Registered Architect (RA): 8834

ABB offers seminars and training classes. All of these courses provide AIA Continuing Education Learning Units.

Courses We Offer

About ABBAE

Our Mission

Education

Transparency

Specialization

Leadership

Executive Leadership

Leadership

Awards

Milestones

Certifications